Traffic-movement indicator for vehicles



`uly 22, 1924. 1,502,370

E, E. BULLARD TRAFFIC MOVEMENT INDICATOR 'FOR VEHICLES Filed Feb. 7, 1922 5 Sheets-Sheet l l?. .1. l /CLg-Zl 1U:

July 22 1924. 1,502,370

` E. E. BULLARD TRAFFIC MOVEMENT INDICATOR FOR VEHICLES Filed Feb. 7, 1922 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 22, 1924. 1,502,370

E. E. BULLARD v TRAFFIC MOVEMENT INDICATOR FOR VEHICLES Filed Feb. 7, 1922 Sheets-Sheet 5 Plantea July 22, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATE-NT4 OFFICE.

EDWIN E. -BIULLAIBJ), OF FRESNO, CALIFORNIA.

Tammo-uovnuanr INDICATOR ron. lvnnrcnns.

Application med February 7, 1922. Serial No. 534,668.

To all lwhom 'it may concern.'

Be it known that I, EDWIN E. BULLARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Fresno, in the county of Fresno and State 0f California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Traic-Movespective lamps. Separate compartments are provided at opposite ends of the vbox for illuminating arrow :heads pointing in opposite directions, and an intermediate comartmentis 'rovidedfor simultaneously iluminating* t ev wordfTurn, so that other driversv vor pedestrians will see the word .Turnfand the arrow pointing in the direc- 'tion in which the vturn is to be made both illuminated on the face plate-of' the signal box when the same is properly manipulated by the user. The stem of the arrow extending between the oppositely pointing arrow heads is also arranged over the compartment bearing the indicia Turn, whereby said stem will'be illuminated with either of said arrow heads.

The invention also contemplates the provision of means for simultaneously illuminating the compartment which the word Turn 'and the arrow stem overlie, and either of the end compartments of said signal box which the arrow heads overlie. The box may also be provided with other compartments for holding lamps to serve as a tail light a stop signal, and a backing signal whic will also-illuminate the roadwa in rear of the vehicle. I

e invention will be first hereinafter de- 4 scribed in connection with the accompanying drawings, whichconstitute part of this specification, and then more specically dened in the claims at the end of the description.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein similar reference characters are used to desto be illuminated by the re ignate correspondingparts -throughout the several views Figure 1 is .an elevation of a signal box constructed substantially in accordance with this invention. l

Figure `2 is asimilar view with the face plate removed.'

Figure 3 is a section on the line III-III of Figure 1.

Figure 4: is a diagrammatic view of the circuitsto the lamps in the compartments o the box" illustrated in Figures l, 2 and 3, and -the circuit closers therefor.

Figure 5 is an elevation of a modied 'form of signal box having an additional compartment for a tail lamp, the circuit to the latter -being indicated diagrammatically.

Figure 6 is a similar view of another modified form of signal box having another extra compartment for a backing signal and rear roadway illuminating lamp, the circuit to which is indicated diagrammatically and controlled by the reverse lever.

Fi ure 7 v is an elevationof a signal box like t p a single lamp in the upper intermediate compartment.

Figure 8 is a similar view plate removed, and

Fi re 9 is a diagrammatic view of the circuits to the lamps in the box shown in Figures 7 and 8. f Referring'rst to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, 1 designates a vsignal box preferably oval in form and divided into separate lcompartments 2, 3, 4 and 5 by two vertical partitions 6 and a horizontal partition 7 the latter extending between the two vertical partitions forl separating the upper intermediate compartment 2 from the lower intermediate compartment `5. The end compartments 3 and 4 of the box are arranged between the respective vertical partitions 6 and the adjacent end walls of said box.

Each compartment 3, 4 and 5 is fitted with a ,single electriclamp 9, 10 and 11, respectively, while the compartment 2 contains two electric lamps 8 and 80, for illuminating the portions of the :face over said several com artments. The face plate 13 may be matie of glass or other transparent material and l1s preferably with the face at illustrated in- Figure'l but-having i plate 13 extending backed by a late 12 of metal or other opaque materia having the various signals or indicia hereinafter mentioned cut therein, although any other form of outlining indicia may also be employed. As illustrated in Figure 3, said plates 12 and 13 are mounted in a frame 14 fastened in any suitable manner over the front of the box.

The portion of the plate 12 overlying the upper intermediate compartment 2 of the box has the word Turn cut therein, and below said word a long slot 16 is also cut in said plate to serve as the stem of an arrow, said slot extending beyond the vertical partition 6 and connecting with oppositely pointing arrow heads 17 and 18 cut in the portions of said plate overlying the end compartments 3 and'4, respectively, of the box. The slot 16 is preferably formed midway between the top and bottom walls of the box, and the horizontal partition 7 is arranged below the longitudinal median line of saidl box in order to bring said slot 16 into position to entirelyl overlie the upper intermediate compartment 2. The portion of the plate 12 overlying the lower intermediate compartment 5 of the box has the word Stop cut therein.

As illustrated in Figure 4, the circuits to the lamps in the several compartments of the signal box may be energized by a battery 21 from one pole of which a conductor 41 runs to'the pivot point 42 of a switch arm 43. From the other pole of the battery 21 extends a conductor 44 which is forked at 45 to run to the lamps 9 and 10 in the end compartments 3 and 4 of the box. Said lamps are also connected by conductors 46 and 47, respectively, to contacts 48 and 49 arranged to be separately engaged by the switch arm 43, so that either of said lamps 9 or 10,1nay be illuminated when desired by throwing said switch arm into engagement with the proper one of said contacts. One of the forks of the conductor 44 is connected by a forked conductor 50 to each of the lamps 8 and 8O in the upper intermediate compartment 2 of the signal box, and separate conductors 51 and 52 run from said lamps, respectively, to the conductors 46 'and 47, so that when the switch arm 43 is throwninto engagement with the contact 48 for closing the4 circuit to the lamp 9 the circuit to the lamp 8 will be simultaneously closed, illuminating the word Turn, the arrow stem 16, and the arrow head 17. Similarly/,when the 'switch arm is thrown into `engagement with the contact 49 for closing the circuit to the lamp 10, the circuit to the lamp 80 will be simultaneously closed, illuminating the word Turn, the arrow stem 16 and the arrow head 18.

The switch arm 43 preferably depends vertically from its ivot point 42 when in neutral position, and) the contacts 48 and 49 are preferably arranged at the left and right, respectively, of said switch arm, so

that when=the signal lamp 10 in the compartment 4, which indicates an intended turn to the right, is to be illuminated, said switch arm is thrown tothe right, and when the lamp 9 in the compartment 3, which indicates an intended turnl to the left, is to be illuminated, the switch arm is thrown to the left. This arrangement of the 'switch and contacts eliminates the danger of confusion and mistake, because the operator always throws the switch in the same direction in which the turn is to be made.

The .circuit to the lamp 11 in the lower intermediate compartment 5 lof the signal box includes a conductor 53 running from the conductor 41 at one pole of the battery 2l to a movable contact 54, another conductor 55 running from a7 fixed contact 56 to said lamp 11, while still another conductor 57 runs from the lamp to one of the forks of the conductor 44 through which it is connected to the other pole ofthe battery. The contact 54 is mounted on or `connected to a lever 22 which may be the clutch pedal or brakel pedal of an automobile, the ixed vcontact 56 being suitably mounted to be engaged by said lmovable contact 54 when said lever or pedal is actuated for stopping the machine. It is obvious, however, that the circuit to the lamp 11, which illuminates the stop signal over the lower intermediate compartment of the signal box, may be controlled by a separate switch of any known construction, such, for instance, as the switch 26, Figure 5.

Referring to Figure 5, the signal box illustrated therein is constructed substantially like the one illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3, except that it has an extra compartment 23 at the bottom containing a lamp 25 for illuminating a red lens 24 to serve as a tail light. Said lamp 25 may be energized by a battery 28 in a circuit 27 controlledby a switch 26 arranged in reach of the driver. The signal box illustrated in Figure 6 is similar to that shown in Figure 5 except that two extra compartments are provided at the bottom of said box. One of said extra compartments 23 contains the tail lamp 25, while the other extra compartment 30 contains a lamp 32 for illuminating a White lens 31 to be used for indicating the intended backing or reverse movement of the vehicle and'for illuminating the roadway in rear of said vehicle. Said lamp 32 may be energized by a battery 36 from one pole of which a conductor 39 runs to the lamp, while from the other pole of said battery a conductor 35 runs to a movable contact 34. A conductor 38 runs from the lamp 32 to a fixed contact 37. Said movable contact is preferably mounted on the reverse lever 33 of the automobile andthe fixed contact 37 is mounted in proper position to be engaged by said movable contact 34 when said lever is thrown into reverse. A control switch 4() is preferably provided in this circuit so that the lamp 32 need not be illuminated in the daytime when the reverse lever is engaged.

Figures 7 and 8 illustrate a signal box of the same construction as thatshown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, with a single lamp 81 in the upper intermediate compartment 2 instead of the two lamps 8 and 80. In order to illuminate said lamp 81 with either of the end lamps 9 and 10 to produce the same effect as already described in connection with the circuits to the lamps 8, 80, 9 and 10, Figure 4, the circuit arrangement illustrated in Figure 9 may be used.

In Figure 9, one pole of the battery is connected by conductor 61 to the pivot point 62 of a vertically depending switch arm 63 which may be swung to the right for simultaneously engaging two contacts 64 and 65, or to the left to simultaneously engage two contacts 66 and 67. The contacts 64- and 66 are connected by a conductor 68 to the lamp 81. rlhe other pole of the battery 60 is connected by a forked conductor 69 to the lamps 9 and 10, said forked wire connecting through a branch conductor 7 0 with the lamp 81. rEhe lamp 10 is `connected to the contact by a conductor 71, while the lamp 9 is connected to the contact 67 by a conductor 72. With this arrangement the circuits to the lamps 81 and 10 will be closed when the switch arm 63 is thrown to the right, thereby illuminating the word Turm the arrow stem 16 and the right hand arrow head 18, and when said switch arm is thrown to the left the circuits to the lamps 81 and 9 will be closed, illuminating the word 'lurn, thearrow stem 16, and the lett hand arrow head 17 v The circuit to the stop signal lamp 11 in Figure 9 is substantially .the same as in Figure 4, the conductor 73 running from the conductor 61 at one side of the battery 60 to the movable contact 74 mounted on'or connected to the lever 75, corresponding to the lever of Figure 4, while the lamp 11 is connected by a conductor 76 to a iixed contact 77 and to the other side of the battery 60 through the forked conductor 69 and a conductor 78 running from said 'lamp thereto.

I claim: l

1. The combination with a signal box having separate compartments at its ends, and upper and lower intermediate compartments lying between said end compartments,

Y' of a face plate overlying said compartments and bearing a double 'headed arrow and the word Turn,7 the heads of said arrow pointing in opposite directions and overlying separate end compartments, the stem of the arrow and the word Turn overlying one of said intermediate compartments, and trai'ic indicia on the face plate overlying the other intermediate compartment for the purpose specified. l

2.*The combination with a signal box having vertical partitions and a horizontal partition extending between said vertical partitions for dividing said box into separate compartments at its ends, and upper and lower intermediate compartments lying between said end compartments, of a face plate overlying said compartments and bear` ing a double headed arrow and the word Turm the heads of said arrow pointing in opposite directions and overlying separate end compartments, the stem of the arrow and the word Turn overlying one of said intermediate compartments, and traiiic indicia on the portion of the face4 plate overlying the other intermediate compartment, the horizontal partition extending along one edge of said arrow stem.

3. The combination with a signal box having vertical partitions and a horizontal partition extending between said vertical partitions for dividing said box into sepa- Y rate compartments at its ends, and upper and lower intermediate compartments lying between said end compartments, of a face plate overlying said compartments and bearing a double headed arrow and the word Turm the heads of said arrow pointing in opposite directions and overlying separate endcompartments, the stem of the arrow and the word Turn overlying the upper intermediate compartment, and trafc lndicia on the portion of the face plate overlying the lower intermediate compartment, the horizontal partition extending along the lower edge of said arrow stem.

4. The combination with a signal box having a plurality of compartments, of a face plate covering said compartments and bearing a double `headed arrow and the word Turin the heads of said arrow pointing in opposite directions and overlying different compartments, the stem of the arrow and the word.Turn both overlying another compartment, an electric lamp in each of the compartments which the heads of the arrow overlie, two electric lamps in the compartment which the word Turn andthe stem of thearrow overlie, a switch arm, an electric circuit including said switch arm, one of the lamps in the compartment which the word Turn and the stem of the arrow overlie, and the lamp in the compartment which one of the arrow heads overlies, a contact in said circuit to. be engaged by said switch arm when the latter is swung 1n one direction for simultaneously illuminating one of the lamps in the compartment which the word Turn and the stem of the arrow overlie and the lamp in the compartment which one of the arrow heads overlies, an-

other electric circuit including the switch arm, the other one of the lamps in the ccm- 'partment which the word Turn and the stem of the arrow overlie, and the lamp in the compartment which the other one o the arrow heads overlies7 and a contact in the latter circuit to be engaged'by said switch arm when the latter is swung in the opposite direction for simultaneosly illuminating said other lamp in the compartment which 10 the word Turn and the stem of the arrow overlie and said lamp in the compartment which` the other arrow headoverlies.

In testimony whereof I havesigned my name to this specification.

EDWN E. BULLARD. 

